Guides and operators who do sport fishing will now have to apply for a license from the Coastal Zone Management Authority before doing so. This is because of new legislation that was signed into law last year and is now being implemented. Collin Gillett is the Director at the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute.
Collin Gillett; Director Coastal Zone Management Authority

"The Sport Fishing Regulation was just signed on Monday by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and what it does is allow the Coastal Zone Management Authority to issue sport fishing license and the collect the sport fishing licensing fees. The Coastal Zone Management Authority is not mandated to enforce these regulations. What we will do in the coming weeks, we will have meetings with all the stakeholders who do sport fishing so that we can get feedback as to what needs to be in place for the issuance of the licenses."

As Gillett mentioned, they will be meeting with stakeholders to gather recommendations regarding fees and licenses and other challenges that they face. A release from the CZMA says that all the recommendations will be analyzed and where possible will be incorporated into a new management plan for the industry as well as the National Coastal Zone Management plan.

Collin Gillett; Director Coastal Zone Management Authority

"This isn't just another tax; it's for us to be able to carry out the work that we do in terms of monitoring the activities of the tourist and other fishermen that go out there and it is for us to do research on the effects of catch and release in our waters and to provide for the upkeep of the stock because if it is not regulated then the stock will eventually deplete."

This new regulation will be monitored and enforced by the Fisheries Department and the Belize National Coast Guard. Application forms can be picked up at the Coastal Zone Management's office on Princess Margaret Drive.

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